Excusing Ourselves from Gospel Blessings

The parable of the great supper was told by the Lord Jesus Christ to a scribe or religious dignitary. The feast pictures the blessings we can receive through trusting in the Lord for salvation. It was a prepared feast, illustrating that Christ had already come, and this would have surprised the Jews who were still looking for the Messiah.

The Lord focussed on those who were on the primary guest list for the feast, but used excuses to avoid attending. What was their real motivation for avoiding the feast? Perhaps they disliked the host or did not appreciate the lavishness of the banquet. Do we fail to comprehend all that Christ can do for our souls?

As we consider the excuses in more detail, we can see how wrong the priorities of these guests were. When it comes to the eternal destiny of the soul, have we understood how weighty and important these matters are?

The passage closes with great encouragement and a grave warning. For those who desire Christ, 'yet there is room', but for those who reject the Lord, they shall never taste the gospel blessings that can be found in Him.